Love Him Desperate (On the Market #5) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,87

helped Wilder with prep this morning, but he said Dmitri hadn’t called in or anything.”

“He’s not going to…”

“God, Raph,” Lorenzo said, and Raphael knew it was a stupid thought before he even said it. “He’s just worried.”

Raphael nodded, because he was too. He was aching with it, and there was a sort of urgent anxiety that was prickling up and down his spine since the sun had come up, and he knew the only way to ease it would be to find Dmitri. “Do you think it’s too soon to go look for him?”

“Maybe,” Lorenzo said, “but you probably should anyway. Want me to drive you?”

“I wouldn’t know where to start.” But he leaned forward and set his bowl down before taking out his phone and pulling up his last text thread with Dmitri. It was benign—it was terrible. It was two words in response to Dmitri telling him about his day, and he felt like he had let him down. The love of his life, and he hadn’t been there for him—even as a friend.

Raphael: I won’t bother you if you need time, but I just want to know you’re okay.

He waited five minutes, but the text remained unopened, so he pushed himself up and put his phone in his pocket. “Let’s start at his place.”

Lorenzo nodded and hurried for his keys.

It wasn’t a surprise when no one came to the door, and Lorenzo pressed his ear to the wood, then shook his head. “I don’t hear the TV or anything. He’s probably not in.”

Raphael bit the inside of his cheek, then sighed. “I’ll feel better once we find someone who had seen him. I think we should try the ranger’s station first, and then we can start combing town.”

Lorenzo led the way back to the car, and it wasn’t long before they were pulling up the long road to the big lake. Raphael felt his stomach sink when he didn’t see Dmitri’s car there, but he got out anyway and took the path with careful steps, knocking on the door before letting himself in.

He wasn’t entirely surprised to see Ronan’s partners both there with him, and Parker rose, hurrying over as Raphael closed the door behind him. “I heard you broke your hand on that shithead’s face.”

Raphael didn’t bother to hide a tiny grin as Parker took his hand off the crutch to prod at the bruise. “Fitz seemed pretty sure it wasn’t broken, but it would have been worth it.”

“I have a lot to say, but none of it is safe for Jonas’ young, delicate ears,” Parker said.

Jonas, who was sitting on a computer at the second desk, poked his head around the screen and rolled his eyes. “Idiot. Is everything okay with Dmitri?”

Raphael felt his stomach sink again. “I was hoping he was here with you. I’ve tried to text him, and we’ve asked around, but no one’s seen him.”

Ronan pulled a face. “He called this morning and asked if I had work for him, but I told him to take a couple days off. I didn’t see him leave last night, and I’ve been worried, but he sounded mostly okay.”

Raphael took his hand back and rubbed at his eye. “I just don’t know where to begin looking. I’ve tried everything usual, but this is very unprecedented.”

“You could try that trail by the creek,” Jonas said, and everyone turned to look at him, making him blush. “Uh. We had a nice chat there. I told him I go there to clear my head sometimes. Maybe he took my advice?”

Raphael would have never considered it, but it made sense right then. Something in his gut told him that’s where Dmitri had to be. “I’ll check.”

“Text me okay?” Ronan asked, half-rising. “If you see him. Just let me know.”

Raphael promised, then walked out and found Lorenzo leaning against the hood of his car. “I think he’s in town. Let’s head back to the bakery.”

Lorenzo frowned, but he did as Raphael asked, and he was able to read the situation enough that he didn’t say anything for the rest of the drive. Raphael’s phoned remained tragically silent, but he had a feeling Jonas was right about the creek.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Lorenzo asked when he pulled up to the building.

Raphael shook his head, wishing he had his power chair, but he’d done more complicated trails in the past. It would take him a while, but the pay-off would be worth it. Even if Dmitri yelled